Re: Questions from a mild climate gardener
- To: perennials@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: Questions from a mild climate gardener
- From: D* M*
- Date: Tue, 18 May 1999 09:56:04 -0600
>Hello Friends -- I often read posts from people in zones 5,6,7 etc about
>digging up plants and storing them for the winter, and I must admit that it
>amazes me.
>Please alleviate my ignorance by explaining the process -- which plants do
>you dig up and store, how do you store them, when do you put them in
>storage and when do you take them out.
>Thanks!
>
>Nan
Hi Nan...
Every climate has its special challenges. I'm sure many of us can scarcely
imagine the water restrictions with which lots of folks in southern
California have to deal.
For those of us in the Great White North, the killer (both figuratively and
literally) is the cold. No matter which zone we're in, there is always
something that we love to have this is hardy to only 1 or 2 zones south of
us.
The most common items that get brought in for the winter (at least here in
Wisconsin) are things such as dahlias and cannas. Their size and beauty
are worth the work. Out into the garden in early May, where they will stay
until the tops are killed by frost, then dug, cleaned and stored in a cool
basement, another thing that many of you lack (where in the world to you
store your junk!!!). I used to dig my callas, too, but found that I could
just keep them in pots and move those in and out. I do this with many
other things too, such as a crape myrtle, brugmansias, bomarea and some of
my water plants (such as thalia) that I don't want to sink to the bottom of
my pond in order to be protected from being frozen.
I'm sure other folks have different plants that they feel are worth the
effort of moving in and out seasonally.
Don
Don Martinson
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin (Milwaukee suburb)
USDA Zone 5 (-10 to -20F)
AHS Heat Zone #4, Map at: ( http://www.suite101.com/userfiles/79/hz1024.jpg )
l*@execpc.com
But list! A voice is near;
Great Pan himself low-whispering through the reeds,
Be thankful, thou; for if unholy deeds
Ravage the world, tranquility is here!"
-Wordsworth, "Water Sonnets"
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